One-sided separable fasteners



Feb. 25, 1964 H. MQRIN 3,121,929

, ONE-SIDED SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed Dec. 20, 1961 INVENTOR, ou/5 H NOR/N TORNE United States Patent 3,121,;929 ONE-SIDED SEEARABLE FASTENERS Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N.Y. (125 Beechwood Ave., New Rochelle, N.Y.) Filed Dec. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 160,722 Claims. (Ci. 24-2051) This invention relates to separable fasteners, wherein scoops are fixed to one surface only of the stringers. More particularly, the invention deals with a fastener structure of this type and kind, wherein outer ends of the coupling end portions of the scoops are so fashioned as to form what might be termed nose portions adapted to operatively engage the stringer and bead of a companlon stringer in: definitely checking the scoops against disengagement when subjected to various stresses or strains in the use of the fastener and, particularly, in establishing a strong resistance to what is commonly referred to as the one inch jaw test, to which fasteners of the type and kind under consideration are subjected.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken to gether with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which FIG. 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view of two scoops of one stringer and a single scoop of a companion stringer shown in coupled relationship with each other.

FIG. 2 is a view, generally along the line -22 of FIG. 1, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, diagrammatically illustrating the position of the scoops of the two stringers when subjected to tests or strains to illustrate the checking of the scoops against separation one from the other.

FIG. 4 is an edge view of one stringer and a scoop attached thereto, with part of the construction broken away and in section; and

FIG. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, portions of two stringer tapes and 1 1, having on one surface thereof longitudinal beads 12 and 13, the beads being arranged inwardly of edge portions 10', 11 of the tapes, leaving what might be termed tape shelves 14- and beyond the beads 12 and 13, respectively.

As all of the scoops are of the same construction, the brief description of one scoop will apply to all and these scoops are identified by the reference character 16. Each scoop comprises a mounting end portion 17 arranged upon the respective beads '12 and 13 and the shelves 14 and 15 beyond the beads. The scoops also include coupling end portions 18 which, in the construction shown, comprise substantially diamond-shaped heads 19 which project, in part, beyond the edges .10, '11 of the stringer tapes, as will clearly appear from a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawing. inwardly of the heads 19, the opposed sides of the scoop have recesses, as at 20, and these recesses form what are generally referred to as the female coupling portions of the scoops receiving the heads of male coupling portions 19 in the manner diagrammatically seen in FIG. 31 of the drawing. The showing in FIG. 1 is diagrammatic primarily from the standpoint of omitting the tapers in the wall structures of the parts as appearing more clearly in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing. In other words, the outlines of the scoops in FIG. 1 represent the largest dimensions of the parts. The recessed portions 20 include, at sides thereof adjacent the beads 12 and 13, tapered lugs 21, one of these lugs being shown, in section, in FIG. 5 of the drawing.

3,121,929 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 "ice The heads or male coupling portions 19 of each scoop have centrally of the lower portion thereof an outwardly projecting nose portion 22 extending from an inclined wall at sides of the head, one of these walls being seen at 23 in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing. In other words, the sides 22 of the nose .22 flare inwardly in meeting the incline 2 3.

It will appear, from a consideration of FIG. 5 of the drawing, that the rounded surfaces of the nose 22 or the portions 22' thereof fit upon the lug 21, as indicated at 22". In other words, portions of these. lugs extend beneath the rounded portions 22, as illustrated in said figure.

Normally, the coupled stringers assume the position illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. However, when subjected to stresses or strains in the use thereof which would tend to move the scoops and stringers into the position, as. indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 3, it would appear that the nose 2-2. of the scoops will operate upon the shelves 14 and 15, depressing said shelves and forcing the beads between the scoops into the distorted contour, diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3, part of which distortion is also transmitted by the outer free edge of the upper portion of the scoops. It will, thus, be seen that the scoops are definitely checked against any possible separation in the flexure or strain such, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. It will be understood, however, that, normally, when strains prevail tending to separate the coupled stringers, the lugs 21 engaging the surfaces 22 of the nose portion 22 will serve to check movement of the scoops into the position of FIG. 3, in other words, obviate distortions as noted in FIG. 3. In this connection, it will be understood that the illustration of FIG. 3 is simply to demonstrate the positive check against separation, even though the stringers are subjected to excessive strains tending to move the scoops into the positions illustrated.

It will clearly appear from a consideration of FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing that the surfaces of the shelves 14 and 15, to which the scoops are attached, are angularly offset with respect to the surfaces of the stringer tapes having the beads 12 and 13 thereon. This result is accom plished in the operation of casting or molding the scoops on the stringers. In other words, the female recessed portion of the scoop has a lower surface, which is downwardly and outwardly inclined, which results in this angular arrangement of the surfaces of the shelves 14 and 15. In this connection, it will also be apparent that the lower surface of the nose portion 22 will be inclined upwardly from the tape edges, thus facilitating free coupling engagement of the scoops of the stringers. This will be clearly apparent from a consideration of FIG. 2 of the drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A separable fastener of the character described comprising a pair of stringer tapes having beads on one common surface thereof, the beads being spaced from the edge of the stringer tape-s to form extending shelves on said tapes at said edge, scoops fixed to said surface of the tapes and said beads, each scoop of the stringers com prising a mounting end portion and a coupling end portion, the coupling end portion comprising a male head and female recessed portion inwardly of the head, the major part of the head of the scoop projecting beyond said edge of the stringer tape, the projecting portion of said head of the scoop having on the part of the scoop adjacent the stringer tape a nose portion with flared surfaces thereon, said nose portion overlying the shelf of the tape of the companion stringer when a pair of stringers are coupled together and a contracted lug on one wall of the female recessed portion of each scoop extending 3 upwardly from the surface of the stringer tape, and said lugs operating upon the flared surfaces of the nose portion of the scoops of a companion stringer in checking movement of the scoops of coupled stringers against relative movement in predetermined directions.

2. A separable fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein said nose portion includes inwardly flared sides.

3. A separable fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein one Wall of the female recessed portion of each scoop includes a contracted lug extending upwardly from the surface of the stringer tape, and said lugs operating upon the flared surfaces of the nose portion of the scoops of a companion stringer in checking movement of the scoops of coupled stringers against relative movement in predetermined directions.

4. A separable fastener as defined in claim 1, wherein the nose portions of the scoops of one stringer are adapted to flexibly disort the shelf portions of the tape of a companion stringer and portions of the beads of a companion stringer in excessive strained movements of the scoops of the stringers in predetermined directions.

5. In separable fasteners as defined in claim 1, wherein the surface of the shelves to which the scoops are attached are downwardly inclined, and the lower surface 10 of said nose portion being flared upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schweinburg Mar. 23, 1937 Winterhalter Jan. 27, 1942 

1. A SEPARABLE FASTENER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A PAIR OF STRINGER TAPES HAVING BEADS ON ONE COMMON SURFACE THEREOF, THE BEADS BEING SPACED FROM THE EDGE OF THE STRINGER TAPES TO FORM EXTENDING SHELVES ON SAID TAPES AT SAID EDGE, SCOOPS FIXED TO SAID SURFACE OF THE TAPES AND SAID BEADS, EACH SCOOP OF THE STRINGERS COMPRISING A MOUNTING END PORTION AND A COUPLING END PORTION, THE COUPLING END PORTION COMPRISING A MALE HEAD AND FEMALE RECESSED PORTION INWARDLY OF THE HEAD, THE MAJOR PART OF THE HEAD OF THE SCOOP PROJECTING BEYOND SAID EDGE OF THE STRINGER TAPE, THE PROJECTING PORTION OF SAID HEAD OF THE SCOOP HAVING ON THE PART OF THE SCOOP ADJACENT THE STRINGER TAPE A NOSE PORTION WITH FLARED SURFACES THEREON, SAID NOSE PORTION OVERLYING THE SHELF OF THE TAPE OF THE COMPANION STRINGER WHEN A PAIR OF STRINGERS ARE COUPLED TOGETHER AND A CONTRACTED LUG ON ONE WALL OF THE FEMALE RECESSED PORTION OF EACH SCOOP EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE SURFACE OF THE STRINGER TAPE, AND SAID LUGS OPERATING UPON THE FLARED SURFACES OF THE NOSE PORTION OF THE SCOOPS OF A COMPANION STRINGER IN CHECKING MOVEMENT OF THE SCOOPS OF COUPLED STRINGERS AGAINST RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN PREDETERMINED DIRECTIONS. 